Category: Juniors

28Feb

C.J. Smith (29)

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JYP left wing C.J. Smith(29) quickly signs up for a 1-year extension after 1 goal and 4 assists through 5 games looks like a lock for him to score goals in Liiga after starting the season late with the team.

After 3 years at UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks, the 5’11” 183 lbs. forward signed an NHL entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with Buffalo Sabres and stayed in their system for 4 years.

The 29-year old from Des Moines, IA is said to be coming back from surgery due to an injury, so this is a nice landing spot for him to re-stake his game.

He comes away with 8 goals and 12 assists in 33 games, which gains interest from Barys Astana of the KHL for 2024/2025.

So much for the tryout in Germany, as he will head home under contract to Charlotte Checkers, where he should do well and help.

He definitely help his new team win games, going into the playoffs, but waits a moment before signing 2025/2026 and agrees to terms with Bridgeport Islanders.

After 17 AHL games with 8 assists, he decides to head of to DEL and signs with Fischtown Pinguins for the 2nd half of 2025/2026.

28Feb

Matt Allen (20)

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2nd year right wing Matt Allen(20) is heading to France2 next, signing a 1-year deal with Drakkers de Caen for 2024/2025.

Upon finishing up a 2nd year at University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves, he signed an ECHL deal with home state team, Tulsa Oilers and would get 1 assist in 3 games.

He initially did 2 years at UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks, but wasn’t the biggest scorer in Hockey East.

The 5’10” 168 lbs. forward from Minco, OK scored very well in his 2nd season of juniors in the NAHL as captain with Amarillo Bulls.

24-years old, we think he’s likely excited for the new hockey experience.

He actually rethinks his decision and signs with Huntsville Havoc and amasses SPHL scoring to be loaned up to Maine Mariners.

For 2025/2026, he re-signs, but despite continuing to score gets traded to Pensacola Ice Flyers.

28Feb

Ashton Collazo (17)

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Framingham State University Rams‘ senior, captain center Ashton Collazo(17) takes some decent scoring numbers to a 1st pro contract with Blue Ridge Bobcats.

The 5’8″ 176 lbs. forward played 2 FPHL games with no points.

After high school, the Victor, NY native worked himself up from a season in the EHLP to the EHL, putting up some pretty good numbers along the way.

The 24-year old will need a contract for 2025/2026, if he plans to continue.

He gets signed by the new Indiana Sentinels and goes on to score 5 goals and 17 assists, but gets himself dished to Watertown Wolves for the 2nd half of the session.

28Feb

Ryan Glazer (9)

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Rookie left wing Ryan Glazer(9) gets traded after picking up FPHL scoring to 14 goals and 3 assists in 16 games for Indiana Sentinels to Baton Rouge Zydeco for the remainder of 2025/2026.

The 5’10” 183 lbs. forward scored a college high 6 goals and 8 assists as a junior before leaving a year on the table at Morrisville University Mustangs to turn pro.

He did 3 years of junior hockey, scoring well.

From Montreal, QC, the 24-year old will likely continue to do well and maybe get loaned up.

27Feb

Jake Lucchini (19)

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Undrafted 4th year center Jake Lucchini(19) signed with Montreal Canadiens for 2020/2021 and has agreed to continue in the system on a minor league deal to affiliate Laval Rocket.

The former Michigan Tech Huskies‘ senior captain jumped in quick upon signing his first deal on an ato with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, grabbing a quick 6 goals and an assist in 15 AHL games.

He had a similar breakout upon the trade, scoring 4 goals and 1 assist in 6 games after being obtained in a trade with Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 5’11” 183 lbs. forward will need to get back on the scoring tear but could easily play his way into another NHL contract.

A product of Trail, BC, he played for hometown juniors Trail Smoke Eaters popping the lid leading the team with 35 goals and 48 assists in 58 BCHL games.

The 26-year old is still climbing.

After 2 almost 20 goal (19) sessions with Belleville Senators and a 2nd 30+ assist frame, he signs as an unrestricted free agent for 2023/2024 with Minnesota Wild and will help their affiliate Iowa Wild climb into the rankings.

He also skated 11 games with Ottawa Senators and potted a 1st big league goal.

After 40 games in the big league and 30 in the minors, he would move on to sign a 1-year deal with Nashville Predators.

He only skated 3 games with them, but 70 in the minors with affiliate Milwaukee Admirals.

It appears his time is good there as, after a 2nd 20+ assist season, signs for 2026/2027.

27Feb

TJ Semptimphelter (35) with video feature: 1-question interview

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers, Videos | Leave a comment

Northeastern University Huskies‘ 2020/2021 commit, goaltender TJ Semptimphelter(35) really seemed to hit stride last season, while playing his only junior campaign in the USPHL/NCDC for Junior Bruins.

The 6’1″ 185 lbs. net minder posted a fairly ridiculous 21-6-3 record in 2020/2021’s weirdo stop & start COVID infected run with a 2.05 GAA and .933 SV% including 4 shutouts.

He mostly posted some good numbers through youth hockey but it was the Marlton, NJ native’s 18U season and as a senior at Lawrenceville School, where it really seemed to come together big.

At just 18 years old he looks like a goalie some big clubs will have their eye on and could even challenge for the top job in his first year at the new school.

He started in 8 games as a rookie and ran totals, except for the record, almost exact to what he did in his last year of juniors.

Looking for more, he enters the transfer portal to tend net for Arizona State University Sun Devils that goes exceedingly well in his 2nd campaign there, posting a 16-5-4 record with a 2.52 GAA and .908 SV%.

For his senior year though, he is off to maybe his greatest college challenge, University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, 2024/2025.

He starts 31 games, posting a 18-11-2 record with a 2.64 GAA and .910 SV% and has earned a tryout agreement with Bridgeport Islanders, which will hopefully have him see a couple of games before the season wraps.

After his 1st game in net, he signs for 2025/2026 with Milwaukee Admirals, but is mostly playing for affiliate Atlanta Gladiators, where he puts up some amazing ECHL marks to earn a 1-year extension.

College Hockey Players one question interview with Northeastern University Huskies 2021/2022 commit and Junior Bruins stellar 2020/2021 goaltender, TJ Semptimphelter.

26Feb

Colby Ambrosio (77)

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Boston College Eagles‘ senior center Colby Ambrosio(77) will do a year of eligibility at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks 2024/2025 graduate season.

The Colorado Avalanche 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#118 overall) didn’t score quite as much as he is used to, playing a college best 40 games, but likely accepted a different, more checking oriented role on a very strong team.

From Welland, ON, the 24-year old did 2 USHL frames with Tri-City Storm before heading to school.

He finishes up his extra year tying the 13 assists he had as a sophomore to sign a 1st pro deal with Toledo Walleye that begins even before his college life concludes.

In his ECHL, he records a multi-point game with a 1st goal and an assist and has 3 tallies and 2 helpers with a +2 in 7 games so far for a more than solid start.

Through his early time as a pro, he skates 12 games, claiming 3 goals and 5 assists, then added another 11 points in 18 playoff games to easily earn himself a deal for his rookie season to be a Walleye, 2025/2026.

After scoring 11 goals and 6 assists in 45 games, he is dished to Jacksonville Icemen, who apparently need him to score for them more.

26Feb

Kevin Gravel (5)

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9th year defenseman Kevin Gravel(5) has got to be feeling the same way he did when he was a rookie with Manchester Monarchs making an unlikely AHL run to capture the 2015 Calder Cup trophy.

The now 31-year old is locked in with his team, Milwaukee Admirals in a Western Conference battle to head to the Finals.

He has contributed 1 goal and 2 assists in 9 games with a +4 rating.

The 6’4″ 203 lbs. blue liner is signed on a 2-year 2-way deal to Nashville Predators and skated 23 games with them this past season.

He has played 132 NHL games and 332 in the lower league.

Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in 2010 (#148 overall), he initially was on a minor league contract, when helping his team to the title, but quickly upped on a 2-year entry level deal heading into the next frame.

The St. Cloud State University Huskies‘ 4-year d-man exploded in his senior year with 10 goals, seemingly out of nowhere.

He’s got another year left on his current deal, so he should settle in nicely.

Playing super well as team captain for the affiliate, Admirals with great plus numbers, despite maybe not scoring huge points earns him 2 more seasons at nice little pay bump to stay.

He is definitely well-liked and asked to stay for another 2 years to remain an Admirals.

26Feb

Dylan Gratton (25)

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University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ senior defenseman Dylan Gratton(25) leaves his 3rd school after 22 games and 1 assist to turn pro, signing a contract for the remainder of 2025/2026 with the team, his captain, brother Tyler plays for, Utah Grizzlies.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward did 3 USHL seasons of junior hockey with a 2022 Clark Cup Championship before heading to his 1st school, Penn State University Nittany Lions.

He did 2 years there, then transferred to University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks for 1 session.